Seating and service arrangement for drug stores and the like



' June 7, 1955 c. L. YOUNGSTROM SEATING AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENT FOR DRUG STORES AND THE LIKE Filed May 4, 1951 INV ENT OR m w m ww T l w M x I: NM. T l M W\ w RN. I W" \N 8 f B. u Q E U mu 3 r Y QN W .3 0w B I m @HHH I m T \N QN \N. w v 1 v I om ooooo N ENE United States Patent SEATING AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENT FOR DRUG STORES AND THE LIKE Clifford L. Youngstrom, Cosmos, Minn.

Application May 4, 1951, Serial No. 224,607

1 Claim. (Cl. 201.6)

This invention relates generally to improvements in seating and service arrangement for drug stores and like eating establishments.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a combination of newly shaped booths for the customers and a service runway for the waitresses which will greatly facilitate rapid service, for a maximum number of diners with a minimum store personnel. In accordance with my invention the booth and service runway layout will permit customers to enter and leave the booths, and to be served therein, with none of the commingling of the paths of customers and waitresses now common to present restaurant booth arrangement. Further in accordance with my invention the booth-service runway layout may serve as an extension of a U-shaped soda fountain with counter and stools, well adapted to location in the center of the 0 room or store so that customers may approach from either side, and so that the store personnel concerned with serving food will have a clear pathway to all parts of the department without interfering with, or interference from, customers at either fountain or booths.

Another object of my invention is to provide a booth arrangement, having arcuate, or substantially semi-circular seats at each side of partitions defining an intervening runway, with the seats open at one end for entrance to and exit from the booths, and with correspondingly shaped hinged table tops attached to said partitions so that they may be swung up out of the way when customers enter or leave the booths. When lowered the table tops may be firmly supported on an upright leg or stand at the center of each booth.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of a soda fountain and booth arrangement according to my invention, showing three of the table tops swung upward and the remainder in service position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing 1 have shown a soda fountain and booth layout embodying my invention, particularly suitable for use in a modern drug store and preferably arranged down the center of the store room where it will take the minimum of valuable floor space but will be capable of handling a maximum number of customers without interference with customer traffic through other departments of the store, all as will presently appear.

In accordance with my invention the fountain section A and booth section B are each a continuation of the other and the fountain is U-shaped having a service bar with opposite, parallel legs or sides 11 and 12, and a closed curved end 13 all around which are stools 14 for the customers. So arranged the fountain encloses a work area 15 for fountain personnel and this area opens into a narrower, elongated booth service runway 16. This runway 16 is formed and defined between spaced, parallel and vertical partitions or booth walls 17, about waist high, secured in any suitable manner to the floor C, and themselves constructed of any suitable material in accordance with modern store fixture construction methods. Thus an almost completely enclosed work area is formed for the store personnel concerned wtih food service, and entrance to this area may be had through the open end 18, or by doors 19 at the junction of the fountain and booth sections.

Arranged along the opposite sides of the runway 16 are opposed pairs of booths, here shown as twelve in number, designated generally at 20 and each of which comprises a curving, arcuate or substantially semi-circular seat 21, as viewed in plan, attached or abutting at one end against the adjacent partition or wall 17 and spaced at the other end therefrom to leave an entrance and exit opening 22. Any modern construction may be employed for the seats 21 but they will, of course, have comfortable cushions and backs as iliustrated rather generally in Fig. 2, with legs 23 supporting the seats well off the floor to facilitate cleaning. Of primary importance, however, is the arrangement as shown of the booths with the entrance-exit openings 22 all facing in the same direction so that customers may enter and leave the booths without interfering with others in adjacent booths. The seats 21 may be of a shape and size suitable to the number of customers to be accommodated, and may, of course, differ in the same installation to take care of large and small groups.

Food is served to customers in the booths 20 upon table tops 24 shaped to fit the booths, i. e., with outer edges 25 which follow the contour of the seats 21. These table tops are, however, not stationary in the booths but are hinged at their inner edges at 26 to the adjacent partitions or walls 17 so that the tops may be swung up out of the way, and customers may stand when entering or leaving the booths. When in service the table tops 24 are swung outward and downward to horizontal positions, at which leg and lap room is afforded in the booths, but a maximum table area is provided for greatest convenience. In the latter position each table top 24 rests firmly upon a centrally located vertical leg or stand 27 secured by its base 28 to the floor C centrally of the booth. Preferably, although not necessarily, this stand 27 is capped by a resilient bumper rubber rest 29 and however made the stand is so located that it will interfere to a minimum with customers entering, leaving or seated in the booth.

It will be noted that the partitions 17 extend but a short distance above the level of the table surface so that the waitresses may conveniently place food on the table or remove dishes and the like therefrom. To facilitate such service the partitions are also provided along their upper edges with inwardly projecting, horizontal rails 30 (Fig. 2) upon which trays may be placed and along which the trays may slide from booth to booth.

In practice booths not in use will be kept cleared and ready for service, with the table tops 24 either folded up out of the way, or cleared so that they may be swung up when customers enter, thus permitting the customer to walk erect into the booths instead of having to slide around to their position as is presently necessary in most booths. When the customers are seated the table tops are lowered atop the stands 27 and the waitress takes and fills their orders. Since the paths of customers and waitresses do not cross, and the work of the latter is not impeded as at present customers may be served promptly and efficiently. In addition the customers entering and leaving one booth do not disturb others in adjacent booths and the traffic pattern in and out of the food department blends with traffic over adjacent store areas without inter- 3 ference therewith, thus making the maximum effective use of the floor area and increasing customer convenience.

It follows, of course, that when customers are ready to leave the booths the tables must be cleared of dishes and the like, requiring the waitress attention at such time. This is not a detriment, however, since no prompter attention is required than should otherwise be offered and when customers leave a booth it is automatically, so to speak, ready for the next occupants, without an unsightly collection of used dishes, etc., as is now so often the case. The Work of the store personnel is greatly facilitated by the fact that they move in straight lines up and down the enclosed work areas, and steps are kept at a minimum. All such things, of course, contribute to eificient service and the good customer relations so vital to successful store operation.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A soda fountain and booth arrangement of the character described, comprising a U-shaped fountain and a waitress runway extending from the open end of the fountain forming a work area as a continuation of the enclosed area of the fountain, spaced partitions laterally enclosing said runway, and booths along the opposite sides of said partitions for service from said runway, the said booths being substantially semi-circular in shape with seats arranged at one end against the partitions and spaced at the opposite ends from the partitions to form entrance and exit openings for the booths, and continuous horizontal rails along the upper edges of the partitions for supporting service trays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

